The largest windmills in the world
Schiedam has the largest windmills in the world. At one point twenty windmills could be found in the city. The majority of these were distilling mills which ground grain for the malt wine distillers who supplied to the jenever industry. Below you can read more on the five remaining giants that give the city its distinctive character and on the ‘De Kameel’ windmill, restored in may 2011.
Babbersmolen
Tuinhuisjescomplex Vijfsluizen 74, 3111CH Schiedam |
De Kameel
Doeleplein 6, 3111 PA Schiedam |
The reconstruction of Windmill De Kameel (The Camel) began on Monday the 10th of November 2008 at the Doeleplein. The windmill stood close to the Doeleplein between 1715 and 1868, next to the port then known as Overschiese port. It lost its sails, iron axis and roof during a storm in 1865. The mill’s body was used as a sawmill for some years but was finally demolished after a fire. The reconstruction work to totally rebuild De Kameel will take around three years to complete.
De Nolet
Hoofdstraat 8-14, 3114 GG Schiedam
Drie Koornbloemen
Vellevest, 3111 PR Schiedam |
Museummolen De Nieuwe Palmboom
Noordvest 34, 3111 PH Schiedam |
This stage windmill was built in 1781 as Windmill De Palmboom (The Palm Tree) and was reconstructed in 1993 after a fire in 1901 which all but destroyed the mill, leaving behind nothing more than a ruin. After the restoration work was completed het Nederlands Malend Korenmolenmuseum (Dutch Corn Grinding Windmill Museum) was situated in Windmill De Nieuwe Palmboom. The museum is sectioned into the following themes: farmer, miller, baker and distiller. The windmill, which is more than 30 m high, is the largest in the world. It grinds rye and malt for various uses, including for in the museum’s distillery. Special activities for children are also organised. For more information call 010-4267675. Admission to the windmill € 2,50 | € 1,75 (up to 12 years of age)
Molen De Noord
Noordvest 38, 3111 PH Schiedam |
This stage windmill was built in 1803. Windmill De Noord (The North) is the highest of the original ‘Schiedam giants‘, with a height of 33.3 meter. It is the only mill in Schiedam in which you have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner in an original windmill which is still in operation. The windmill can only be visited upon request by the restaurant’s guests. The windmill still rotates regularly and the grinding machinery is completely intact.
Molen De Vrijheid
Noordvest 40, 3111 PH Schiedam |
This stage mill was built in 1785 and restored in 1972/74. The windmill is one of the largest mills in the world and is still in operation to this day grinding for bakeries and distilleries (jenever). It also has the oldest cast iron mill axis from 1838.
Molen De Walvisch
Westvest 229, 3111 BT Schiedam |
This stage mill was built in 1794 and restored in 1975. A real miller’s store can be found on the ground floor with a large assortment of mill flour and other baking products. The store is opened on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am till 5pm and on Saturday from 10am till 4pm. Windmill De Walvisch (The Whale) owed its name to the Greenland whaling industry which had its heyday at the end of the 18th century. It is also in this period that the market for malt wine and jenever grew. The mill not only ground for the distilleries. In the early ‘30’s even magnesium was processed here.
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